FG Sets Up Committee To probe Weapons Procurement From 2007 to Date

The Federal Government has set up a committee to investigate the procurement of hardware and munitions in the Armed Forces from 2007 to date.

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the committee was set up by the National Security Adviser, retired Major-General Babagana Munguno, following a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement, the committee which has retired AVM J.O.N. Ode as President, is mandated to identify irregularities in the procurement and make recommendations for streamlining the process.

Others include Group Captain C.A. Oriaku and Mr I. Magu from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), while Brigadier-General Y.I. Shalangwa would serve as Secretary.

The Committe would also investigate the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.

The establishment of the committee, it said, was in line with the present administration’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in the public service.

It said that the decision to set up the committee was informed by the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces had faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms.

It further said the committee would specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures.